Forced marriage refers to a marriage in which at least one person did not consent to the union. Tactics such as fear, guilt, fraud, or shaming are often used to coerce a person into marriage.
Sakhi provides support to anyone who has experienced forced marriage or is seeking more information on forced marriages.
Sakhi’s Commitment to Addressing Forced Marriage
We provide free, confidential support to individuals that are facing forced marriages either in the U.S. or overseas.
- Our services include safety planning, risk assessment and comprehensive case management support.
- Many minors possess limited knowledge and ability to advocate for themselves. Our casework and resources seek to support individuals in both building awareness of one’s rights and escaping forced marriage.
We are leading the forced marriage national campaign in the U.S. and work closely with state partnerships to create a clear policy for supporting forced marriage survivors.
About Forced Marriage
Arranged marriage is not the same as forced marriage. Forced marriage occurs when one’s right to consent and refuse is violated. In an arranged marriage, there is always consent.
Who Does Forced Marriage Impact?
- Forced marriage impacts people from all religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, national origins, and economic status.
- Forced marriage affects people of all ages, and those aged 15 to 25 are at higher risk of experiencing it.
- Forced marriage affects folks of all genders.
The Impacts of Forced Marriage
- Survivors of forced marriage often face emotional, physical, and psychological abuse, rape, and denial of education and opportunity.
- The long term effects for women can include rape, forced abortion, enforced pregnancy, serious mental health problems.
- Often occurs for reasons related to adhering to gender norms, money, immigration, status, etc.
Know the signs. Forced Marriage can involve:
- Emotional blackmail and pressure
- Isolation: survivors may miss school or have no contact with friends and family; often, their family may limit their social contacts or ability to socialize
- Economic threats: Economic threats like kicking an individual out of all financial sources and house, other cases withdraw the support in usa or visa.
- Threat of physical violence: may involve physical violence from family or partners.
- Stalking: partners or family members may surveil or follow the survivor when they leave home.
- Kidnapping: often, survivors are forced to travel to a parent’s home country. They may be manipulated into marriages while traveling for what they thought was vacation.
- Holding personal items: withholding passport, cell phone and credit cards overseas and forcing a survivor to get married.
Further Resources
Tahirih Justice Center
tahirih.org | preventforcedmarriage.org
Sanctuary for Families
www.sanctuaryforfamilies.org
Ending Child Marriage in New York – Sanctuary For Families
The U.S. State Department
The State Department is available to assist U.S. citizens that are victims of forced marriage with replacement of travel documents and return travel to the United States. For updated information and travel alerts, please visit the department’s webpage.
Contact the U.S Embassies in South Asia
U.S Embassy in Afghanistan
Phone: 833-741-2777 or 606-260-4379
Email:
U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh
Phone: +880 2-8855500
Email:
U.S Embassy in India
Phone: +91-11-2419-8000
Outside of Office Hours, contact: +91-11-2419-8000
Outside of India: 011-91-11-2419-8000
U.S Embassy in Nepal
Phone: +977 1-4234000
Email:
U.S Embassy in Pakistan
Phone: +92-51-201-4000 or 5000
Email: